• To volunteer, call Rachel at 584-3528, ext. 407. There are shifts all hours, every day of the week.
• Adopt a family in The Haven domestic violence program for the holidays by calling 441-2029.
• The organization’s greatest need is monetary donations. Donate online at www.rcspinellas.org, by phone by calling 584-3528, ext. 6 or mail to 503 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756.
The Salvation Army Clearwater Corps
• Participate in the holiday adopt a family program or to volunteer or donate in any capacity, call 725-9777.
St. Vincent de Paul Society Soup Kitchen
• Cash donations, gift certificates to grocery stores and food from food drives are always welcome. Send donations to 1345 Park St., Clearwater, FL 33756.
Special events
Gift, toy drive ST. PETERSBURG - The People That Love Church and Mission Inc., 817 5th Ave N, St Petersburg, will distribute free toys and other surprises to needy youngsters at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24. Organizers say they will hand out a toy to each child accompanied by a parent or guardian on a first-come, first-serve basis until the toys or kids are gone. This is the church's 18th year of helping needy children to have the best Christmas possible and community donations make it happen. You are invited to bring gifts for the kids to the above address at anytime. We serve youngsters of all ages, from newborn to high school. For more information, visit www.peoplethatlove.com for more information.
Food drive The Pinellas Park Employee Wellness Program and The Walk for Hope Charity have launched a food drive for the city’s homeless shelters and food pantries. Nonperishable items may be dropped off at the Police Administration Building, 7700 59th St.; Pinellas Park Public Library, 7770 52nd St.; Forbes Recreation Center, 6401 94th Ave.; City Hall, 5141 78th Ave.; Broderick Recreation Center, 6101 66th Ave.; Fire Station 33, 5000 82nd Ave. or Fire Station 34, 6565 94th Ave. Call police Sgt. Tracey Schofield at 647-0175.
Food drive During the coming weeks, RCS and the Downtown Dunedin Merchants’ Association will be working together to host an ongoing holiday food drive to help RCS Food Bank restock the shelves in anticipation of a record-breaking holiday season. Throughout the holiday season, people can bring food to in-store barrels at various Downtown Dunedin Merchants. To make a financial contribution, please call 727-443-4031.
Food drive Sears Home Appliance Showrooms around the nation will welcome the holiday season by sponsoring food drives to benefit local food banks and non-profit organizations in their communities throughout November and December. The Largo Sears Home Appliance Showroom teams will receive donations of canned and boxed non-perishable food items through Dec. 31. Customers are encouraged to drop non-perishable canned and boxed food items as well as other needed products, such as diapers, paper towels, handy wipes, latex gloves, etc. in the donation boxes located at their Largo Sears Home Appliance Showroom, 10757 Ulmerton Road during business hours. Donations will be distributed to local food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, etc.
Food, clothing and gifts drive Best Value Cleaners, located at 1578 Main St. in Dunedin (on the north side of Rte. 580), is the drop off location for those wishing to donate food, clothing or gift items. Except for turkeys, food items donated should be dry, shelf-stable or canned. If you desire to give a gift item to this drive, please give a new or gently used (like new) item or gift certificates. CD players, i-Pods, MP3 players and bicycles are good gift items which are especially appreciated by older children. Toiletries, bathrobes, nightgowns and a quilt or comforter for the bed are appropriate items for those seniors in assisted living facilities. For directions or more information call Best Value Cleaners at 727-657-9093.
Miscellaneous
Santa Dollars The Abilities Foundation is partnering with Publix Super Markets and Marketing Productions during the 2009 holiday season with the sale of Santa Dollars. This novel gift is an actual dollar bill with a trademarked and registered Santa seal that covers George Washington’s face. The seal is removable so the dollar is spendable, or can be kept as a collectible. All proceeds from Santa Dollars benefit the Abilities Foundation. Santa Dollars are available only at Publix Super Markets throughout West Central Florida. Visit www.santadollars.com.
One Warm Coat Burlington Coat Factory, One Warm Coat and Good Morning America, are joining forces to bring warmth to those in need this winter. The Third Annual Warm Coat & Warm Hearts Drive runs through Jan. 15, 2010. Coats collected by the store at 7351 Seminole Boulevard in Seminole will be distributed to the needy by MetroMinistry. Good Morning America kick off the coat drive on air on Monday, Nov. 23, reaching out to its millions of viewers reminding them to bring gently-worn coats to Burlington Coat Factory store locations nationwide. The 2008 Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive resulted in the collection of more than 177,000 coats for people in need across the country. All three partners believe that number will increase this year. Coats should be in good condition, with working closures, and no rips or stains. Donors will receive a receipt for tax purposes and, as a thank you, a coupon for 10 percent off their next Burlington Coat Factory purchase through Dec. 24, 2009. For more information or to find a list of Burlington Coat Factory stores, visit www.abcnews.com/gma or www.BurlingtonCoatFactory.com. For more information about One Warm Coat, visit www.onewarmcoat.org.
